Marik was roiled with far too many emotions and thoughts to stick around the game shop. Yugi and Imhotep had just arrived as he bolted through the door, running towards nowhere in particular. He just needed to get away from everyone.
He didn't even know where to begin sorting through his racing thoughts. In all honesty, he had so much going on inside that he wanted nothing more than to just let it all out in the form of tears…and he hated it. After several more minutes of running aimlessly, he ducked into an alley and did just that.
He slammed a fist to the ground, hating that he'd once again found himself sobbing in an alleyway.
Footsteps approaching prompted him to raise his head. He quickly stood and took a defensive stance at the sight of Ra walking towards him.
Ra looked around and scoffed in disgust. "Pathetic. Weeping like a small child in a place such as this."
"Go away. I'm not in the mood to deal with your bullshit," Marik said bitterly as he hastily wiped away the evidence of his frustrated emotions.
Ra cast a sideways glance back to the teen. "I have to admit, I find you intriguing. You do not stare in awe, and you are not afraid of me. If anything, you look at me as though I am nothing more than a lowly mortal. Why is that?"
Marik clenched his jaw. "Maybe because I'm just looking in the mirror and seeing what I used to be."
Ra raised a brow in amusement, chuckling quietly. "Used to be? Are you claiming that you were once perfection? I find that hard to believe."
"Perfection? More like the complete opposite. I was a self-absorbed ass full of insecurities."
Ra's amused expression turned sour. "To say such things implies that you think I am the same."
Marik couldn't help but smirk. "I wasn't implying, I was stating. You're an insecure, self-absorbed, ass."
"How dare you speak to me in such a manner? I am R-"
"Yeah, yeah. 'I am Ra'. I know." Marik interrupted dismissively. "Seriously, is that all you've got?"
Ra glared dangerously. "You dare to mock me? You should consider yourself lucky to still be alive at this moment."
Marik glared back in a taunting manner. "What? Too afraid to attack me outside of your 'territory'?"
"You certainly are bold," Ra stated, everything about him screaming the fury that he was holding at bay. "Though I doubt you would be so bold standing in my domain."
Marik stood straight, arms outstretched in invitation. "What if I gave you permission to attack me here and now? Surely that doesn't break any of the rules."
Ra narrowed his eyes and tilted his head, as if contemplating the offer. "Where is the serpent?"
Apep coiled in the back of Marik's mind, as if preparing to strike.
"Haven't a clue as to what you're talking about," Marik stated, feigning ignorance.
"Don't toy with me. I know you have some sort of connection to the thing. I just don't know how," Ra warned.
"Maybe I do. Maybe I don't. Maybe I've just been stringing you along into believing what I want you to believe. It's not like you're that hard to figure out," Marik continued to taunt.
Ra took what appeared to be a centering breath, giving an earnest stare. "Have you allowed the Daughter of Anubis to ingest my blood?"
Marik's face furled in confusion. "Um…"
"Has she bitten you," Ra clarified in annoyance.
"Uh…I'm not comfortable sharing the details of my more intimate moments. You're technically my grandfather, and that's just a weird topic to be talking about," Marik said awkwardly.
Ra narrowed his eyes again, as though peering through the teen. "I don't know how you managed to transfer a part of yourself, but I know you're there. There's only one way out, and I won't let you succeed."
Before Marik could question Ra's words, the god vanished in a blinding flash.
Apep emitted a growl of irritation in the back of Marik's mind.
He suspects our motives. We must exercise more caution.
'Ya think?' Marik scoffed mentally in reply. 'So what now?'
The snake was silent, obviously thinking.
You may want to return to our vessel. Her mind is unwell.
'No offense, but is there ever a time that her mind isn't unwell?'
The distinct sound of amusement echoed in Marik's mind.
To be honest…not really.
The chuckled response of the serpent prompted Marik to do the same. He walked out of the alley as he proceeded to head in the direction of his girlfriend's house.
He'd managed to make it halfway to the house when his shoulder was grabbed from behind. He instinctively pulled out of the grasp, turning quickly with his fists raised in preparation.
Malik pulled his hands back, raising them in a way to indicate that he meant no harm.
"Sorry. I probably should have given some warning," Malik apologized.
Marik quickly relaxed and lowered his hands. "It's okay. I'm a bit on edge."
"Understandable."
Marik's head and shoulders fell. Malik being here meant he was done explaining everything to Ishizu. "So when do I leave?" he asked in defeat.
"Whenever you want, I suppose. But only if it's what you really want," Malik replied nonchalantly.
"What I want…" Marik said while breathing out a nervous chuckle. "It doesn't matter. Ishizu will drag me back one way or another."
"She will? That's funny…considering I've already taken her back to Egypt. Oh, and she is pleased that you have taken an interest in wanting to serve the Pharaoh by teaching him about the modern world."
Marik quickly lifted his head, staring in disbelief at what he'd just heard. "WHAT?!"
Malik had a devious smirk across his face. "The Pharaoh has awakened in an era vastly different from his own. There is so much new technology, and he's really been struggling on how to make sense of it all. It's not your fault that you felt it was necessary to move in with the Pharaoh to help him. Poor thing still struggles with how to use a cell phone."
Marik stared blankly, struggling to find the words to say. "Um…okay…but what about you…and me?"
"Don't worry, she still doesn't know about the dynamic between us," Malik stated in reassurance. "I explained that Safiya and I were close friends, and that it was I that exposed her to the outside world. I also explained that there were a series of magic-related events that melded my mind into yours. Magic always has some very unpredictable side-effects…such as messing with one's sanity for example," he said with a knowing grin.
"You lied to Ishizu?"
Malik looked offended. "I didn't lie. I omitted certain facts. There's a difference."
"Did you tell her that I haven't been under the same roof as Atem for nearly a week?"
"Must have slipped my mind," Malik grinned mischievously.
Marik couldn't help but smile and shake his head. "You really are a sneaky bastard."
"Ishizu is the reincarnation of my own sister. I know how to say only what needs to be said to sate her curiosity."
"And what about when she figures out that you didn't tell her everything?" Marik questioned.
Malik swallowed hard as his face fell, his eyes wide with fear. "I know of some very lovely places that are on the opposite side of the globe."
Marik nodded knowingly. "That's what I thought."
Malik shrunk into his shoulders. "My sist-...your sister…she scares the fuck out of me. She's mean."
"Trust me, I know," Marik replied. "Why do you think I wanted to avoid the whole 'Hey, so the guy who possessed my body and tried to kill everyone is actually my dad'?"
"Why do you think I avoided telling her?" Malik replied in kind.
Awkward silence lingered between the two of them before Marik spoke again.
"Thanks for not telling her."
"You're not ready for her to know, and honestly, neither am I. I'm still trying to figure this whole 'dad' thing out. I know it's what you want, but I have no idea how to go about it."
"I think what you just did in not telling everything to Ishizu counts. Again, thanks."
Marik wasn't certain why, but he felt that words alone weren't enough to express his gratitude. He quickly stepped forward and embraced the Ishtari.
Malik's body stiffened at the gesture, his hands suspended midair as he tried to figure out how to react to it. After a brief moment, he awkwardly patted the top of the Tomb Keeper's head. "Uh…right…um…no problem…"
Marik released his hold and sheepishly took a step back while looking anywhere but at the Ishtari.
Malik stood there, wide-eyed in confusion. "Please don't do that again. I'm not certain I like it."
"R-Right…" Marik said while turning to continue on to the house. "So…um…I'm going to check on Kat. I kinda yelled at her for what she did earlier."
Malik nodded his head. "Good idea. I'll just…uh…I'll check on her with you."
They walked the remainder of the way in awkward silence, only pushing aside that awkwardness when they felt light vibrations beneath their feet.
"An earthquake?" Marik questioned.
"That…wasn't the earth…" Malik replied nervously. He looked towards the house. "That came from inside."
Awww...they had a moment :)